No.43 - ‘Dirty Rice’ by Mad Caddies (2014)

“ The search parties with their razor lights could never capture our wicked love; They look for reason in their cold cathedrals; It’s so far from where we have run…”

The origins of my introduction to the Mad Caddies escapes me, their 1998 album ‘Duck And Cover’ pushed me to buy my first banjo and would arguably be the biggest influence on some of my songwriting over the following years. But it’s their 2014 release, ‘Dirty Rice’ that breaks into my top 100 albums, and what a fun album this is!

A fantastic ‘pick me up’ that is far from your average ska album. A few decent uptempo punk rock songs are thrown in amongst a load of really catchy ska tunes. Highlights for me include ‘Shoot Out The Lights’, a lovely little modern reggae track with very tasteful brass arrangements. Compare that with some classic Mad Caddies in ‘Bring It Down’, combining thrashy melodic punk with their banjo-tinged ragtime, complete with bouncing trombone and muted trumpet. 

There is such a wonderful array of songs on this album and every listen brings smiles a plenty. A very welcome addition is the regular use of piano and organ throughout the album, which was never a mainstay on previous albums. I could never get tired of the sound of the Caddies, but the keys give them a new dimension and groove that certainly goes in their favour. The brass is superb throughout, and even if you rarely venture into the world of punk rock, it’s hard to not enjoy this album.

Mad Caddies formed in California, 1995, originally using the names ‘Cracked Macaroni’ and ‘The Ivy League’. They have released 7 studio albums, selling over 500,000 worldwide. Dirty Rice never charted in any country and is released on vinyl, which currently is not in my collection.

Favourite songs - Shoot Out The Lights, Callie’s Song, Bring It Down, Shot In The Dark

Other great albums - Duck & Cover (1998), Just One More (2003), Keep It Going (2007)




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

No.45 - ‘The Bell And The Hammer’ by This Day & Age (2006)

Image
“  If I could learn to act patiently, then I would see that my view of time is selfishly based around me;  I should run away, but I  can't; chasing dreams that are slowing down for me;  I should turn around, but I can't; It's within my reach …” Another round of applause  given to the pool of online streaming algorithms for showing me a plethora of new music. Not all stay within my listening world for long and some become firm favourites. The Bell And Hammer is one of the best albums ever  recommended to me and one that continues to grow on me with every listen. This Day & Age cross into indie from melodic rock. If you are a fan of Keane, Coldplay or Ben Folds, but fancy something a little heavier in the guitar department, you will absolutely enjoy this album. A strong piano/keys and soaring vocals with decent harmonies set the standard for most songs.  The tone of Jeff Martin’s voice has a sweetness that fans of the aforementioned bands will love. ...
Read more

No.64 - ‘The Wait’ by Zox (2006)

Image
“Sometimes I'm sure that I am crazy;  It's taking its toll, it 's making me old;  With half the winter still to go;  Maybe I'm afraid of love, maybe I'm afraid of pain; And maybe I'm afraid too much, maybe I'm afraid that I won't ever change…” It was August of 2006, and our first and only Reading Festival. Wanting to see the likes of Muse, Less Than Jake, Gogol Bordello, Flogging Molly, Bedouin Soundclash and others around the Lockup Stage, we left the festival having discovered a new band, and one of our favourite acts of the weekend, Zox. They don’t really fit into the bracket of other bands. A mix of Sublime, The Pixies and Maximo Park; There is a ska influence, but mixed with indie rock. The  defining feature being an electric violin player, taking the role of lead guitar, producing an interesting and unique overdriven sound. Although this setup felt a little sparse to me in the studio recordings at first, I appreciate hearing the string nuances and ...
Read more

No.66 - ‘Direction’ by The Starting Line (2007)

Image
“ I've got stars in my great big sky;  I shall gaze upon without leaving small ones behind,  because they're harder to find;  Some were satellites, others planes;  Some were twinkling while others were fading away,  but they're all one of a kind …” I never latched onto the likes of Blink 182 or Sum 41. Surprising, as I spent most my teens listening to Punk Rock. The closest mainstream band of my desire, in the Pop Punk genre, would probably be Green Day. But another Spotify discovery brings us The Starting Line, at 66 in our 100 best albums countdown.  I don't tend to latch on to the popular bands, but to what my ears like (It’s what this list is all about). And ‘Direction’ takes a look at punk from the alternative rock angle; really good melodies, interesting rhythms and timings, and quite a range of dynamics. Its a far more mature sound than the likes of those bands previously mentioned. Although I’m not totally enamoured by Kenny Vasoli’s vocals, the mel...
Read more